“For me, he is most definitely someone who can help Scottish football develop in the way that it needs to. I have absolutely no doubt about that at all.

“The SFA get whacked for a lot of things — and they’ll get whacked for this in some quarters — but actually the important thing is that they do the right thing despite knowing they’re going to get whacked.

“You cannot defend the inappropriate text messages. But does that reflect who and what Malky Mackay is?

“I just don’t think it does. I know him, I know his wife, I know his kids, I know his parents and I know what sort of background he’s come from.

“I just don’t believe that’s who he is and I think it’s to his credit that he’s never attempted to defend what he said. He has tried to explain the context.

“Like I said, you cannot defend the text messages but does that mean if someone does something which, in one moment in time is clearly indefensible, that you hang that around their head and hold it against them so that they can never ever be employed?

“I think that’s a nonsense.”

Campbell has been close pals with Mackay for years and has offered him invaluable advice.

He added: “I can’t even remember how I got to know Malky.

“I think it may have been through Neil Kinnock, who Malky became very friendly with when he was at Cardiff. I may also have met Malky through Alex Ferguson, I genuinely cannot remember.

“But it was before the fuss blew up and we became good friends.

“I am very interested in football and I have always felt Malky was one of those guys who was ahead of the game in terms of understanding the way it is changing.

“He has an appreciation of modern football with analysis and sports science, a real attention to detail and work ethic.

“For me he’s really, really suited to the job he’s taking on.

“Now, will this issue of the past be raised endlessly? Almost certainly, but you just have to deal with it.